Gyroscope spinning device.



No. 814,969. PATENTED MAR. 13, 1906. F. M. LEAVITT. GYROSGOPE SPINNINGDEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1905.

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-1NVENTOR:

WITNESSES:

ran STATES PATENT @FFICE.

FRANK M. LEAYITT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO E. W. BLISS COMPANY,OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A. CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

GYROSCOPE SPINNING DEVlCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 13, 1906.

Application filed June 17,1905. Serial No. 265,766.

of the torpe 0 while the latter is moving in the launching-tube and torelease the spun gyroscope before the torpedo shall have moved farenough to depart from the original direction given it by thelaunching-tube. This s inning up has heretofore been accomplished in[two Ways: first, by a spring-motor previously wound, which is trippedautomatically during the launching movement, whereupon it exerts itsstress to first spin up and then unlock the gyroscope; second, by aturbine or reaction motor to which compressed air is admitted upon theopening of the air valve to start the engine during launching, wherebythe air-jet quickly spins up the gyroscope, whereupon acompressedair-actuated device acts to unlock the gyroscope. UnitedStates Patents Nos. 741,683 and 768,291.

The present invention instead of providing a special motor for momentaryuse in spinning up the gyroscope utilizes for this purpose the mainmotor or propelling-engine of the torpedo, which-is primarily connectedto the gyroscope, means being providedfor disconnecting them after asufficient interval to insure that the gyroscope shall have been s un upto the requisite velocity, whereupon the gyroscope is simultaneously setfree.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a sectional view of the afterportion of an automobile torpedo. Fig. 2 is a vertical section, on alarger scale, of aportion of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section onthe line 3 3 in F ig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the shell or hull of thetorpedo, of which B is the propelling-engine or motor. Cis the propeller-shaft. D and D are propeller-screws. E E are thesteering-rudders, and F is the gyroscope or gyroscopic steeringapparatus which through any suitable intermediate steering-enginecontrols these rudders.

The latter system is set forth in my.

In the construction shown the propellingengine B is a turbine driven bycompressed air from the usual compressed-air reservoir G, which duringthe launching movement is admitted by the opening of the starting valveH through apipe a to the nozzle 6, from which the 'ets of air impingeupon the blades of the turliine, the spent air escaping within thetorpedo-shell and discharging throu h the hollow tail portion of thepropeller-shaft. While this: turbine-engine is preferable, yet for thepurposes of the present invention the usual cylinder-engine or any othersuitable motor may be used.

The gyroscopic device F comprises the usual fly-Wheel J hung in gimbalrings,

I whereby it is capable of universal movement,

so that its axis of rotation may be deflected in any direction. It isshown as turning in ball-bearings 0 within a frame (1, constitutin theinner gimbal-ring, and which is pivote on an axis at right angles tothat of the flywheel (shown as a horizontal axis) in a frame 6,constituting the outer gimbal ring, which in turn is pivoted on an axisnormally at right angles to both the preceding'axes (shown as a verticalaxis) to a fixed frame or outer support K, which is shown as aninclosing case or box. While this construction of gyroscope ispreferred, any other suitable construction thereof may be used. Thegyroscope may be connected in any suitable manner to control asteering-engine or other mechanism for operating the rudders.

For connecting the gyroscope to the pro pelling-engine in order to spinup the gyroscope a shaft L is geared to the propellershaft 0 andarranged to be detachably coupled to the flywheel, preferably byengaging an axial shaft or spindle f thereof. The shaft L turns in abearing g, which may conveniently be carried by the frame K. It isrotated by a gerr-wheel it, fixed on the shaft C, meshing with a pinionon the shaft L. The shaft 11 is movable endwise in its bearing, and toaccommodate this movement the pinion j is elongated. This longitudinalmovement of the shaft L is for disconnecting it from the flywheel afterspinning up the latter. This movement is imparted by any mechanism whichwill act only after a certain time has elapsed to enable thepropelling-engine to have attained such speed as to spin up thegyroscope to the' requisite velocity. A suit able velocity for agyroscope of the usual dimensions is ten thousand revolutions perminute.

A suitable mechanism for accomplishing this result is that shown,comprising a cam M, fixed on the shaft C and acting to vibrate a leverN, wluch carries a pawl U, which engages teeth in a slide P, so that thelatter is advanced step by step, and after a predetermined movement itsshoulder kstrikes a lever Q, the opposite arm of which is forked andengages a groove in the shaft L, whereby this shaft; is quickly movedendwise, so as to uncouple it from the fly-wheel.

it reqtnsite that the inner frame or ring Z of the gyroscope be lockedfast during the spinningup operation and thereupon unlocked or released,so to leave the gyroscope free to turn in any direction. This lockingand unlocking may be variously accomplished. A. simple and effective wayis to utilize the shaft L as the locking means, so that its endwisemovement shall release the gyroscope. For this purpose the ring (Z has aprolongation or neck m, which embraces the shaft 1, during thespinning-up operation, whereby the correct. alinement of the flywheelaxis assured. On the endwise movement of the shaft L it first disengagesitselfv from the fly-wheel, so as to set the latter free,

and inn'nsdiatcly thereafter withdraws from the hearmg portion m 01 thering 4, whereby the gyroscope is released.

Fig. 3 shows this released condition, whereby the gyroscope is y l agyroscope, a longitudmally-movable shaft free to turn. and shows that arelative movement in a horizontal plane has occurred between the torpedoand gyroscope, whereby the gyroscope-axis a deflected out of line withthe shaft. L, as occurs d airing the run I of the tnrpmlo. After thisunlocking movement and during the remaining run of the l ring to set thegyroscope free.

torpedo the shaft L turns idly.

ln order to prepare the mechanism-for a new operation, it is necessaryto lift the pawl t) and move the slide 1 to its starting-point, then tobring the gyroscope-ring d, with its hearing m, in line with the shaft Land push this shaft cndwise into this bearing until its end engages withthe spindlef.

During the spinning up the motion is a gradual acceleration due to theinertia of the moving parts of the engine or motor, so that thegyroscope is protected from injury which might occur from a too suddenmovement.

The mechanical construction may be starting of the engine, and means fordiscon necting them after a predetermined interval.

2. In an automobile torpedo, a propellingengine and shaft, a gyroscope,a geared connection between said shaft and the gyroscope for spinning upthe gyroscope upon the starting of the engine, and means fordisconnecting them after a predetermined interval.

3. In an automobile torpedo, a gyroscope, and a connection between itand the propelling-engine, whereby to spin up the gyroscope upon thestarting of the engine, and means fordisconnecting them and forreleasing the gyroscope after a predetermined interval.

4. The combination of a propellin -engine, a gyroscope, alongitudinally-move. le shaft geared to the engine and adapted toengagcthe gyroscope fly-wheel, and means for displacing this shaft after apredetermined number of revolutions to disconnect it from saidfly-wheel.

5. The combination of a pr'opellingengine,

geared to the engine and adapted to engage the gyroscope fly-wheel,theinner ring of the gyroscope adapted to be engaged by said shaft,whereby it holds this ring immovable during spinning, and means fordisplacing said shaft to disconnect it from said inner in witnesswhereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

FRANK M. LEAVITT.

Witnesses: V

ARTHUR (J. FRASER, THEODORE T. SNELL.

